Below is the existing home market statistics for the North End through the end of June. Here are some things of note about this data!

This graph on the upper left corner shows the decrease in the number of active homes on the market in the last year. One year ago, the number of homes on the market was 80, and now it's 60!

This next graph shows that the bottom of the market for the North End was in 2011. Real estate cycles are 5-7 years and we're in our 7th year of recovery, so it is possible that things will shift in the near future.

This large graphic shows a couple of things. First, it shows months of inventory. This means that if no other homes came on the market, how many months would it take to sell all the homes currently on the market, in each price category. This is important because 4-6 months is considered a balanced market. More than 6 months is a buyer's market, and less than 4 months is a seller's market. The second thing this graphic will show is the sold-to-ask ratio. In other words, what percentage of the price sellers are asking for homes did they actually get.

Have you been thinking of selling your home and want to explore what that would look like and discuss current comparables for your house? Want to know more about the market statistics for your specific area throughout the Treasure Valley? Give us a call today! (208) 327-2127

"A neighborhood first platted at the turn of the 19th century is being revitalized with new life. That's exciting to be a part of."

By George Prentice

The rise, fall and resurrection of the Central Addition and, in particular, The Fowler, can be linked to two couples who, even though they're more than a century apart, had remarkably similar dreams: They wanted to be part of a new Boise neighborhood and a thriving downtown business climate.

When Edmund and Sophia Fowler built their Queen Anne-style house at 413 S. FourthStreet in 1894, Idaho had only recently been admitted as the 43rd state in the Union. The Fowlers wanted to live near a new jewelry store on Main Street while becoming residents of what Preservation Idaho would later call "one of the most fashionable places to live" and "one of the most affordable areas for Boise's working class."

Fast forward more than 120 years to husband and wife Paul Carew and Lisa McGrath, who will move into the Central Addition on Saturday, March 10, when the aptly-named Fowler apartment building officially opens for occupancy. Carew owns Carew Co., a strategic design and communications agency; McGrath owns Lisa McGrath LLC, a new-media and privacy law firm; and together they own Wear Boise apparel. All three businesses are in the downtown Boise core.

"A neighborhood first platted at the turn of the 19th century is being revitalized with new life," said McGrath. "That's exciting to be a part of. The City of Boise and the Capital City Development Corporation's plans for Broad Street promise it'll be the 'coolest block in Boise.'"

Actually, those of us who work at Boise Weekly—which moved to the corner of Sixth and Broad streets in 2005—always thought our block was cool. It was, however, eerily quiet for years. Most of the historic homes in the Central Addition, including the Queen Anne affectionately known as "The Fowler," fell into serious disrepair. One by one, some homes were targets of vandalism, fire or both. Most of them were destroyed or bulldozed. Some were saved, including The Fowler, which was rescued in August 2015 and relocated to a lot near Fort and 11th streets. By then, developers from Local Construct had plans for the Central Addition, and it didn't take long to convince city officials to give the neighborhood new life.

"I remember telling them, 'God bless you,'" said Boise Mayor Dave Bieter. "We've been waiting for something like this for six or eight years."

"Once you have people returning to this neighborhood—we're talking about 200 new residents—they're going to want to shop and eat," said Patrick Boel, director of construction for Local Construct. "Downtown has struggled a bit over the years because people haven't lived here. They've driven downtown and had to park, but if you live down here, you can walk. It will have an impact not just on this neighborhood but all of downtown."

Boel smiled like a proud father as he walked through The Fowler, talking about its amenities. Highlights include dog wash stations (the building is pet-friendly), lockable bike parking for 160, a state-of-the-art fitness center, an outdoor deck with a community barbecue and fire pit, and something called "parcel pending."

"Imagine you have a package delivery from Amazon. The delivery person will come up here [the second floor], type in a code and—"Right on cue, Boel entered a code, prompting one of a couple dozen different-shaped doors to pop open—"The system then texts you with a special code that allows only you to open that door."

Some of the Fowler apartments look out over Julia Davis Park and Boise State, while others provide great views of downtown and the Boise Foothills, and they come in different sizes: live/work units, which allow residents to have small businesses in their homes, start at $1,550. Studio apartments are available for $1,100-$1,140 per month, one-bedroom apartments run $1,250-$1,600, and two-bedrooms are $1,350-$1,900.

"I've got one of the new units facing east, so I'll be waking up to some gorgeous sunrises," said Allison Wear, a chief information officer at a Boise business. "My office is just off the Greenbelt; it's so close. Plus, I have a couple of dogs, so I couldn't be happier. I've been waiting for a place like this, especially downtown."

Meanwhile, Carew and McGrath are anxious to move into their sixth-floor unit.

"We'll be looking north with that great view of the Foothills and the Statehouse. We've got a corner unit, so we'll also be looking east enjoying that spectacular sunrise over Tablerock," said McGrath. "We're definitely embracing something new."

Radon is a radioactive gas that is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and chemically inert. It is one of the heaviest substances that remains a gas under normal conditions and is considered to be a health hazard due to its radioactivity.

Radon is formed by the natural radioactive decay of uranium in rock, soil, and water. Naturally existing, low levels of uranium occur widely in Earth's crust. It can be found in all 50 states. Once produced, radon moves through the ground to the air above. Some remains below the surface and dissolves in water that collects and flows under the ground's surface.

Breathing high concentrations of radon can cause lung cancer. Thus, radon is considered a significant contaminant that affects indoor air quality worldwide. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, radon is the second most frequent cause of lung cancer, after cigarette smoking, causing 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year in the United States.

Depending on how houses are built and ventilated, radon may accumulate in basements and dwellings. Unless you test for it, there is no way of telling how much is present.

To test for radon in your home you can purchase a test kit for around $10. All you have to do to order your test kit is go to http://www.drhomeair.com/idaho, select your kit, and fill out your address information. You will be mailed a test kit with complete instructions within 7-10 days.

If the test indicates that radon is too high in your home it can be mitigated in a number of ways, from sealing cracks in floors and walls to increasing the ventilation rate of the building. If you need a radon remediator, call us!

With low inventory and rising interest rates, you may be thinking, "Have I missed the boat?" Rest assured, it is still a great time to purchase real estate, and it's important to evaluate where you are with your life and finances. Here are some things to keep in mind when considering buying a home.

1. Buy a home only when you're ready

If you're thinking you missed out because you didn't buy a home in the down market, don't despair. If you didn't buy, it was for a reason. You most likely weren't quite ready to buy a home. You should only buy a home when you know you can afford it and are ready for the responsibilities that come with homeownership.

2. Be ready for a journey

Despite amazing technological advances where everything is at your fingertips within a moment's notice, purchasing real estate can take some time. Patience is required. Purchasing a home is a complex and infrequently conducted transaction. We do everything possible to prevent hiccups and bumps in the road - our job is to help the process go as smoothly as possible! The current market is very competitive and homes in the best location and condition go very fast. When you meet with us for a buyer consultation, we'll help you be prepared and have all your ducks in a row.

3. Trust your instincts

After you're pre-approved, consider your max purchase price and reflect on your budget. You know the lifestyle you want to live, and know your finances better than anyone. When you're out looking at homes, you'll know when the home is right. We take the time up front to know exactly what you're are looking for. Because of this, it's very common for us to only show a few homes before a buyer puts in an offer.

Buy the right home for your lifestyle and your budget - the right home is waiting for you when the time is right!

Recently Jill Giese & Associates attended the Boise Regional Realtors 'Circle of Excellence Awards Gala.' We had a ton of fun getting dressed up and mingling with other local Realtors! The highlight of our night was when a fellow Keller Williams agent presented Jill with the 'Unsung Hero Award'!

It was a total surprise to her as she took a bite of broccolini, to hear some familiar narrative waft to our table. There was talk about Paint the Town, Rake Up Boise, Poppy - of course - then more stories about mucking out houses during Hurricane Harvey, her charitable donations, the list goes on and on.

It was awesome to see Jill recognized for her charitable contributions, volunteer work, and just overall out-of-this-world-helpful nature. It totally aligns with our mission of creating opportunity for the world. It starts with our team members ensuring they have a great life and love what they do. Then extends to our clients, and our community. And we believe the ripple effect of what we do for every person we encounter expands around the world. It's not about selling houses, it's about helping people and helping them create opportunity for others.

The signs went up last week at Trip Taylor Booksellers, announcing the end of yet another small business in Boise's rapidly changing Downtown: "The Sinking Ship Sale! 75% off EVERYTHING."

Just days earlier, a letter from the landlord was hand-delivered to the crowded shop, informing Henry Taylor III, aka Trip, that he must empty every crammed shelf, take down the poster from Frank Church's 1968 U.S. Senate campaign, unplug the aging record player and close the doors by March 31, according to the Idaho Statesman .

"I spent a lot of time last year, mainly trying to keep it going, perhaps partnering with somebody or finding a buyer," Taylor said Thursday afternoon, as customers streamed in, stunned, saddened and hunting for bargains. "There was a lot of interest, but none of it was nearly serious enough to actually make it happen."

The 18-year-old cultural institution succumbed to a troubling Boise trend.

As Idaho's center of population, politics and commerce grows, many beloved small businesses have shut their doors, victims of rising rents, changing tastes, increasing property values and burgeoning development.

"Another iconic Boise landmark is toppling," said David Klinger, who has fought to save other local institutions. "They're falling fast — Smoky Davis, several Downtown restaurants and breakfast places ... and now our town's primary used bookshop.

"The reasons for closure are many," Klinger said, "but one of the most common threads or explanations is rising commercial rents and the scarcity of places to move for small businesses that still want to remain in business. So they're disappearing."

First Seattle, then Hyde Park, now Downtown

Taylor, a 55-year-old former hotel desk clerk, opened his first bookstore in Seattle in 1995: Iconoclast Books, in the city's Green Lake neighborhood. When he moved to Boise five years later, Trip Taylor Booksellers was born.

Its first location was the yellow Victorian in Hyde Park that's now home to The Hyde House restaurant. In 2005, Trip Taylor Booksellers moved to its current location at 210 N. 10th St., where it will remain until the end of March.

Taylor said it's possible the store could stay open until the middle of April. Then he will continue selling books online through AbeBooks.com and doing some writing. Beyond that, the future is unclear.

"It's still just been too hard in general," Taylor said. He said he's been breaking even and not much more. "Last summer was really quite busy. I think we had so many people on the road; there were people here for the eclipse. I thought, 'Well, maybe if it continues like this.' But of course it didn't into the fall. Everything just got harder again.

"I've just basically been here all the time lately," he said. "At least I'll have a little bit more freedom and space in my life. Other people always see me as the bookseller, but I like to think I have other possible contributions to make."

Henry Taylor III, aka Trip, left his job as a hotel clerk to open his first bookstore in Seattle in 1995. Five years later, he was in Boise, and Trip Taylor Booksellers was born. The shop will close around the end of March.

Other Valley bookstores close

Trip Taylor Booksellers is not the only Treasure Valley independent bookstore to fall by the wayside in recent years. In 2016, Nampa lost The Book Exchange and Pearson's Twice Sold Tales. Yesteryear Shoppe, also in Nampa, is in the process of closing.

"We're on borrowed time," said Yesteryear owner David Gonzales. "But I don't have a deadline."

National bookstore chains have struggled with Amazon's ascent and traditional media's decline. After a dismal holiday season, Barnes & Noble last month began laying off workers across the country, including several at its Boise store.

But independent bookstores across the country have made a comeback in recent years, according to the American Booksellers Association. The trade group showed a 35 percent jump in store numbers between 2009 and 2015, as reported by Ryan Raffaelli, an associate professor at Harvard Business School who has studied the industry.

The ABA keeps a list on its website of recent articles with happy headlines: "Local indie bookstores alive and kicking," ''How Did Independent Bookstores Avoid Going Extinct?" ''Bravo for Books."

Downtowns' trio will become a duo

For many years, three very different bookstores have lived in harmony in Downtown Boise. Trip Taylor sells a wide collection of finer used tomes and is best known for literature, philosophy and art books. Rainbow Books at 1310 W. State St. offers a more mass-market selection. The Rediscovered Bookshop at 180 N. 8th St. sells mostly new books and recent releases.

"I'm heartbroken," said Bruce DeLaney, who owns Rediscovered with his wife, Laura, and shops regularly at Trip Taylor. "We send people back and forth between our stores. It's a loss for the reading community. We will miss having his store there."

The DeLaneys opened Rediscovered on the Boise Bench in 2006 and moved the store Downtown several years later, when they felt they had learned the book-selling craft and were ready for the bigger stage.

"Boise has always had a great reading culture," DeLaney said. "We saw the vibrancy of Downtown, and Trip Taylor has been part of that. ... This is something Boise is going to miss. I don't see another bookstore like his opening up. I don't see someone with his level of knowledge and his level of experience just appearing."

Taylor said he's been operating on a month-to-month lease. His rent had risen. As his business struggled, he grew tired. And then came the letter from his landlord, informing him that a new business had rented the store.

"The landlords did actually want to keep it going," Taylor said. "And they were rather nice about it. But they found somebody who was willing to sign a longer-term lease, and that's that. I can't be too unhappy about it or feel as if I'm being wronged or anything. That's definitely not the case."

As much as Trip Taylor will miss the books when his shop closes, he will miss his well-tended space a little more. There's a picture of a tired Dalai Lama that he found in a book, and a letter from a grateful poetry reader, discovered in the same fashion.

His customers are a different story. On Thursday, a steady flow kept Taylor busy, as they mourned the store's imminent passing, bought stacks of heavily discounted books, and looked for items they couldn't find elsewhere.

One woman wanted astronaut biographies. Her husband was looking for something on Tom Mix, the big-hatted star of silent Western movies. A retired mechanic bought a stack of books on diners, muscle cars and photographing nudes.

A 20-something walked out with one of Taylor's favorites, a copy of "In My Own Way: An Autobiography." The memoir traces the journey of Alan Watt from a family of religious conservatives in rural England to fame interpreting Eastern philosophy for a Western audience.

And then there was Brian McCarthy, whose stack of art books covered erotica and Edgar Degas nudes and included a big, brown, antique medical text.

"It's an old book about venereal disease," McCarthy said. "And it's illustrated."

Sadly, the book was already promised to another customer. But that was not the only downer on this blustery afternoon.

"This is my favorite bookstore," McCarthy said, chagrinned. "Sad story, eh? I'm a graphic designer over at Bittercreek (Alehouse), and I buy most of my resource and reference material over here. Architecture, design, stuff like this."

For the past few months (and years), we’ve been focusing on the causes and effects of low inventory in our local housing market… and for good reason.

December 2017 marked 39 consecutive months of year-over-year declines in the number of existing homes for sale in Ada County, going back to October 2014.

Inventory of existing homes in Ada County was at 1,702 in October 2014 and at a record-low 537 in December 2017, a decrease of 68.4%. In comparison, there were 542 closed sales in October 2014 versus 588 in December 2017, a modest increase of 8.5%.

Looking at months supply of existing inventory — which takes the number of homes for sale divided by the average number of sales by month — there were 3.2 months in October 2014 in Ada County compared to less than one month in December 2017, a drop of 71.8%. (A balanced market — not favoring buyers or sellers — is typically between 4-6 months supply of inventory.)

Our past reports have looked at why there’s so much demand for housing — growing population due to economic opportunities, out-of-state buyers moving in, and Millennials (a huge population group) “aging into” homeownership — but what’s been more difficult, is understanding the supply side pressures and why homeowners aren’t selling when the market is seemingly in their favor.

Digging deeper into the data for existing inventory, we noticed that just as Ada County’s existing inventory had been declining for the past 39 months, so had existing inventory in Canyon County and Gem County.

So, what happened in October 2014 — or leading up to it — that has homeowners throughout the Boise region staying put?

We’ve identified three potential data-driven explanations — Retirees, Boomerang Buyers, and Housing Affordability — and another more psychological explanation — a feeling of opportunity, whether it be an opportunity to be part of the growth the Boise region is experiencing, or the opportunity to wait and sell when we reach a new market peak. Let’s take a closer look at each of these.

Retirees

Our region’s population is growing, and as shared in previous reports, it’s one of the main reasons demand for housing has increased. But if we look at population by age, the share of our population that has grown the most is adults between 55-74 years old, based on U.S. Census data available starting in 2009:

These percentages reflect current residents from the Baby Boomer generation who are nearing retirement and aging into these categories. But they also support what we hear anecdotally from REALTORS® who have clients moving here from out of state to retire, or, are planning to retire in the next few years and purchasing a retirement home here now.

This makes sense as Boise and Meridian, in particular, have been named as best places to live, to retire, to do pretty much anything, mostly because the region boasts many of the amenities today’s retirees are looking for… college town, culture, great downtown, affordability, and access to quality healthcare.

When people purchase retirement homes, they buy with the plan to stay, and those who move into our area to retire don’t typically have another home to sell here. These two factors further constrict the inventory of homes for sale in the existing/resale segment.

Boomerang Buyers

More than 50% of the homes sold in Ada County in 2010 and 2011 were distressed in some way (foreclosure, short sale, bank-owned, or HUD owned). That number fell to 30.8% in 2012 and dropped to 14.1% in 2013. In contrast, the share of distressed home sales was just 1.2% in 2017.

For those homeowners who lost their home during the Great Recession, it would take a few years to rebuild the credit and financial resources necessary to buy again. 2013 and 2014 is when we started to see “boomerang buyers” — referring to people who lost homes to foreclosures or short sales — “coming back” to the market. Boomerang buyers purchase homes from available inventory, but would not have an existing house to sell, further constricting existing inventory levels.

Additionally, once back into a home, it’s unlikely these boomerang buyers would look to sell again soon after, due to the enormous emotional toll a foreclosure or short sale can take on a family. And for some, the run-up in local home prices could feel like history repeating, so they may prefer to stay in place than risk moving up to another potentially unaffordable mortgage.

Related to this… many of the homes lost to foreclosures and short sales in 2010 and 2011 were picked up by investors who often turned them into rental properties that they’ve held on to ever since. And why not? The average monthly rent for a single-family home in Ada County grew 41.3% between 2012 and 2017, an increase of nearly $406 per month, according to analysis of data from the Southwest Idaho Chapter of the National Association of Residential Property Managers. These rentals represent thousands of homes that potentially would have been listed (and then counted as existing inventory) had the Great Recession never occurred.

Housing Affordability

Those who purchased a home at the previous high mark in 2006, saw their equity fall 45-56% through 2011. By 2014, prices were recovering, but most were still 15-26% below peak prices.

During that time, many would-be sellers didn’t have the equity to sell and move up, keeping them in place and holding back existing/resale inventory. Comparing 2006 to today’s median sales prices, homeowners are just now seeing prices 7-13% higher after more than a decade of recovery.

In contrast, those who purchased at the bottom of the market in 2011, have seen home prices grow 108-158% throughout the region. On the sell side, they likely have equity to roll into a new home, and those who can move up in price point or purchase new construction may be pleasantly surprised at the inventory available.

However, today’s prices could be out of reach for some, especially when compared to income changes over the same period. Between 2011 and 2017, the median family income for Ada County was up 7.2% but fell 4.5% for Canyon County and 8.9% for Gem County.

Looking more closely at Ada County, the following chart shows a decline in affordability, based on the median price of existing homes, 30-year fixed mortgage rates, and median family incomes, combined to form a Housing Affordability Index rating (also referred to as “HAI”):

That said, our market is affordable when compared to the U.S. overall, and to nearby higher priced markets — which is where much of our population growth is coming from. To new residents, prices for new or existing homes seem quite reasonable.

Yet while the actual median sales price continues trending upwards — putting major pressure on affordability — the rate at which it does so has been slowing down. Think of it like driving your car up a hill: as the road gets steeper, the speed at which you drive decreases. You’re still gaining ground, just not as quickly.

Year-over-year price gains began falling in mid-2006 through the end of 2009, with fluctuations through 2011. Year-over-year price gains grew consistently through 2012, led by low mortgage rates and more sales at higher price points.

Slowing price increases could be an early indicator of the market coming back into balance, but as long as consumer demand outpaces the number of homes for sale, that low supply vs. high demand relationship should keep actual prices moving up.

Opportunity to be part of the Growth… or to Cash Out

As noted with retirees, people are finding out what a great place the Boise region is, and they want to be here. The “Second Annual Treasure Valley Survey” from Boise State University indicated that current residents enjoy the quality of life, thriving economy, and neighborhood safety. There is growing excitement and interest in the area, and perhaps people don’t want to miss out by leaving.

So, what’s generated all this buzz about our region and Boise in particular?

According to this Marketplace article from February 2013, Boise’s growth was being driven by “a diversified economy fueled by low-interest rates, high technology, and local talent.”

This Washington Times article from March 2014, further points out, that as the Boise Centre made plans for expansion, hoteliers took notice and made their own plans to build. We’ve seen the results of that with many hotels opening in 2017, including three just in downtown Boise, The Inn at 500 Capitol, Hyatt Place, and Residence Inn. In addition, plans were being made for Simplot’s new downtown headquarters, renovations were underway on The Owyhee, and a remodel of the Riverside Hotel was in the works.

2014 was also when a very visible improvement happened in downtown Boise: “The Pit” was finally filled in. After sitting vacant for more than 25 years, 8th and Main was completed, bringing with it businesses, energy, and excitement.

And what about all of those “top ten” lists that highlight Boise, Meridian, and Idaho? Does that national attention have an impact on our growth? According to Clark Krause, Executive Director of the Boise Valley Economic Partnership (BVEP), it absolutely does: “We win and lose by rankings.”

Clearly, the growth we’ve seen since 2014 — when we began seeing year-over-year declines in existing inventory — not only encouraged people to move here but for those who already lived here, to stay and be part of the opportunities being created, seemingly, every day.

On the other hand, when any market is on an upward swing, there’s a natural inclination to want to “time the market” and cash out near the peak. We’ve heard from some REALTORS® that they have would-be sellers, both homeowners and investors, that are holding on to their properties see just how far prices may climb before listing.

A recent (and very informal) poll of Boise Regional REALTORS®’ Board of Directors found that the primary reasons their clients listed a property were reactionary, done because of a work transfer, change in family circumstances, or investors selling residential properties to free up cash for land or commercial purchases. In contrast, the top reasons their clients bought a home were all “because they wanted to.” Out-of-state buyers moving for lifestyle reasons or to purchase a retirement home (supporting the research on retirees), or, moving to Idaho to be near family.

The combined impact of boomerang buyers coming back, investors and retirees purchasing and holding properties, affordability keeping people in place, as well as the potential opportunities that come from recent growth, seem to be primary reasons we are experiencing historically low levels of existing inventory.

These may also be some of the reasons behind the low inventory nationally. The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) reports that today, people are staying in their homes for a median of 10 years versus a 6-year median in 2012. It’s difficult to free up existing inventory, particularly entry-level properties, when homeowners aren’t moving — whatever their reason.

The excitement over these opportunities may be held in check by the “cautious optimism” sentiment we’ve been hearing about our market throughout the recovery and into 2018. It appears people aren’t going to let themselves get too comfortable or overconfident just in case the market shifts.

That said, many economic and demographic factors seem to be working in our favor — specifically record high sales volume and low unemployment — leading to confidence from out-of-state investors that some predict will go on for the next few years.

In early 2017, the Idaho Statesman reported that Idaho led the country in job growth and one of the lowest unemployment rates. Based on the most recent stats from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of November 2017, Idaho had just 2.9% unemployment, Ada County was at 2.8% (down 17.6% from November 2016), Canyon was at 3.3% (down 19.5% year-over-year), and Gem County was at 3.5% unemployment (down 16.7% year-over-year).

Then in November 2017, Ada County home sales surpassed the $3 billion-mark for the first time. The year ended with each county experiencing record high sold volume — Ada County’s 2017 sold volume was $3.3 billion, Canyon County reached $944.6 million, and Gem County ended the year at $66.5 million.

What are economists predicting for 2018?

For the U.S. overall, REALTOR.com expects continued price growth, persistence inventory shortages, and increasing mortgage interest rates. An article from Forbes.com echoed much of the same, but in addition, predicted that in more costly markets, renting may become much more affordable than buying.

Locally, purchasing may still be better, but it all depends on location, income, and housing needs. Looking at Ada County, for example, the average monthly rent for a single-family home in Ada County last year was $1,170, based on data from the Southwest Idaho Chapter of the National Association of Residential Property Managers.

In comparison, a monthly mortgage payment (principal and interest only) for an existing home at the median price in Ada County would be approximately $900 per month. This is based on BRR’s housing affordability index calculations, using data as of December 2017.

The major unknown is how the new tax reform will truly impact the economy, and in turn, the housing market. The National Association of REALTORS® has put out a guide for homeowners’ reference, and we’ll continue to watch and report on its effect on our local economy throughout the year.

Want more stats? Have questions?

Visit boirealtors.com for our market reports, released monthly on or after the 12th calendar day. Contact Boise Regional REALTORS® Chief Executive Officer, Breanna Vanstrom, at 208-947-7228 or breanna@boirealtors.com for assistance with these stats or any other association program. Visit our website to learn more about our data sources, methodology, and how to properly cite this data.

This report is provided by Boise Regional REALTORS® (BRR), a 501(c)6 trade association, representing more than 4,400 real estate professionals throughout the Boise region. Established in 1920, BRR is the largest local REALTOR® association in the state of Idaho, helping members achieve real estate success through ethics, professionalism, and connections. BRR has two wholly-owned subsidiaries, Intermountain MLS (IMLS) and the REALTORS® Community Foundation.

The data reported is based primarily on the public statistics provided by the IMLS, available at: intermountainmls.com/Statistics/Static.aspx. These statistics are based upon information secured by the agent from the owner or their representative. The accuracy of this information, while deemed reliable, has not been verified and is not guaranteed. These statistics are not intended to represent the total number of properties sold in the counties or cities during the specified time period. The IMLS and BRR provide these statistics for purposes of general market analysis but make no representations as to past or future performance.

The term “single-family homes” includes detached single-family homes with or without acreage, as classified in the IMLS. These numbers do not include activity for mobile homes, condominiums, townhomes, land, commercial, or multi-family properties (like apartment buildings).

This week we've been reflecting on the last year as we look forward to an amazing 2018. We're motivated and rejuvenated as we begin thinking about our goals and ambitions for helping clients the new year!

As we look back on 2017, we are constantly reminded that we have incredible people in our lives and business. We are overwhelmed with gratitude for you all. 2016 was our best year in real estate up to that point and in 2017 we helped even more clients making it our new best year EVER!!

We are so very grateful for the relationships we've built over the course of 2017 and to be able to create opportunity through real estate for our clients. We're sorry to be repetitive - we just love what we do!

We'd also like to give a big shoutout to agents across the country who sent us clients moving to the or from the Boise area in 2017. Thank you so much! We always strive to provide amazing customer service and take care of your clients' needs.

We hope everyone had a great 2017 and we'd like to wish everyone a prosperous 2018 with new beginnings, fresh starts, love, exciting challenges, adventures, and much more!

When selling your house, the most important decision you will make is where to price your property.

Pricing your home accurately is critical to selling your home in a timely manner and for the most money possible in today's market. Sometimes people think that because they "have time" or "aren't in a hurry" they can wait and they'll get more money for their home. However, the opposite often happens!

Real estate is a numbers game - the more people who view your home, the higher the likelihood you'll receive an offer and the higher the price will be. The more competition for your home, the more money you'll get!

When you put your home on the market, the majority of the showings will happen in the first 1-3 weeks. This is because there is a pool of buyers out there who have seen everything on the market and they've rejected all of those homes. They are looking for the next great property that comes on the market. So when your property comes on the market, everyone will want to see it!

Unfortunately, if your property isn't priced properly, that pool of buyers could reject your house too, leaving it on the market as the showing activity declines. And the only way to increase that showing activity - and therefore your chances of receiving a solid offer - is to lower the price.

Our goal is to price your house perfectly so you receive the largest number of showings possible in that critical 1-3 week period and therefore have the highest likelihood of selling for the best price.

With an exciting influx of new and revamped hotels, an up-and-coming restaurant scene, and a blossoming wine industry, Idaho's capital city - traditionally known as a convention destination - has started to attract the attention of leisure travelers. To read the rest of the article, click here!